Many of us went into last night’s Golden Globes with some trepidation. It has been a very rough year for women in Hollywood beginning with the stunning allegations against Harvey Weinstein brought to light by Ashley Judd. From there dozens of women stepped forward with their #metoo experiences leading to the launch of movements, support networks and a monumental change in how we will move forward as a society. But The Golden Globes are supposed to be the most jovial awards show of the year. After all, half of the presenters are bombed when they get up on stage. And though there was a serious tone during the night starting with the majority of female attendees wearing black in support of the #TimesUp movement, there were still great moments of joy (hello Oprah!) that celebrated the great work of both women and men this year in film and television and the brave female activists that are changing the way people think.

Here were some of the best moments.

1. Black Bombshells

Though it would seem boring to have most of the attendees wearing black, the fashion was still in full force with notable standouts including Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen, winner Nicole Kidman in Givenchy Haute Couture, Issa Rae in Atelier Prabal Gurung, Dakota Johnson in Gucci, Mandy Moore in Rosie Assoulin, Viola Davis in Brandon Maxwell and Diane Kruger in Prada.

2. Debra Messing Calls It Out

It was clearly a different red carpet this year as the questions weren’t just about what you wearing and how you got ready for the day but what do you feel about what is happening and what are you doing to contribute. Never one to shy away from what she thinks Debra Messing kicked off the evening during an interview with the E! Network by calling them out for not paying their female news anchors as much as their male ones. You go girl.

3. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is Truly Marvelous

Amazon Prime Video newbie The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel stunned everyone with its win for not only Best Actress (the marvelous Ms. Rachel Brosnahan) but also taking home the trophy for best comedy or musical series made for television. Amy Sherman-Palladino, the great creator of the often overlooked Gilmore Girls, finally got her big win. But it was Brosnahan who made one of the great speeches of the night: “This is a story about a bold and brilliant and complicated woman and I am endlessly proud to be a part of it,” Brosnahan said as she accepted her award. “But there are so many women’s stories out there that still need and deserve to be told. So as we enter this new year, please, let’s continue to hold each other accountable and invest in and make and champion these stories.”

4. Elizabeth Moss Made Us Cry

Moss has become one of the most prolific actresses of the decade and with her umpteenth win for The Handmaid’s Tale last night she once again perfectly summed up the heartbeat of the room. Quoting Handmaid author Margaret Atwood, “We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories. Margaret Atwood, this is for you and all of the women who came before you and after you, who were brave enough to speak out against intolerance and injustice and to fight for equality and freedom in this world. We no longer live in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. We no longer live in the gaps between the stories. We are the story in print. And we are writing the story ourselves. Thank you.”

5. Tonya Harding is Inspiring

You don’t often hear the words Tonya Harding and think inspiring but with the tremendous success of the new film I, Tonya which shows all sides of the scandal that rocked the world, we are now thinking a little different. Accepting the Globe for Best Supporting Actress Allison Janney said in her speech, “I would just like to thank Tonya for sharing her story … What this movie did is tell a story about class in America, tell a story about the disenfranchised, tell a story about a woman who was not embraced for her individuality, tell a story about truth and the perception of truth in the media, and truths we all tell ourselves when we wake up in bed every morning and go out and live our lives. It’s an extraordinary movie, I’m so proud of it.”

6. Frances McDormand Said It Like It Was

The often blunt but always great Frances McDormand, who won for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” said in her speech: “So, many of you know, I keep my politics private, but it was really great to be in this room tonight and to be a part of the tectonic shift in our industry’s power structure. Trust me, the women in this room tonight are not here for the food. We are here for the work. Thank you.”

7. OPRAH

I mean there is so much to say but if you were not moved by that tremendous speech then you clearly weren’t watching it. It was IMPACTFUL. As her good friend and Wrinkle in Time co-star Reese Witherspoon said, Oprah’s hugs can save the world. The whole speech is great and you can read the transcript here but this part was especially meaningful: “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up.” Well said Oprah. Well said.

Meredith is the former editor in chief of the women's career site, The Grindstone. Her work has appeared in Marie Claire @ Work, The Jane Dough, DailyWorth, SheKnows.com, Business Insider and Learnvest. She earned her Masters in Magazine, Newspaper and Online journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Meredith resides in New York full time and enjoys reading, jogging, SoulCycle and playing with her small dog, Otis.